Relics associated with Jesus
The story of the fourth-century discovery of the True Cross was reported in Jacobus de Voragine's The Golden Legend published in 1260, that included the lore of saints venerated at the time.
[4] Tradition and legend attribute the discovery of the True Cross to Helena, mother of Constantine the Great who went to Syria Palaestina during the fourth century in search of relics.
[6] Pieces of the purported True Cross, including half of the INRI inscription tablet, are preserved at the basilica Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome.
Proponents for the relic's authenticity, such as Vatican archivist Msgr Giulio Ricci,[13] contend that both cloths covered the same man.
[15] The Veil of Veronica, used to wipe the sweat from Jesus' brow as he carried the cross, is claimed to bear the likeness of the face of Christ.
[citation needed] The Jaén Cathedral in Spain has a copy of the Veronica which probably dates from 14th century Siena, known as the Santo Rostro and acquired by Bishop Nicholas de Biedma.
[18] In 1999, Father Heinnrich Pfeiffer announced at a press conference in Rome that he had found the Veil in the Capuchin monastery in the village of Manoppello, Italy, where it had been since 1660.
[21] Wooden pieces claimed to be remnants of the manger of the baby Jesus reside in the Holy Crib reliquary at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
[22] The relic consists of five narrow pieces of sycamore wood, which tradition holds to have been brought from the Holy Land either by Empress Helena (see 326–328 pilgrimage), or in the time of Pope Theodore I (642–649).
[25] The knife used by Jesus during the Last Supper was also a matter of veneration in the Middle Ages, according to the 12th-century Guide for Pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.
[26] According to French traveler Jules-Léonard Belin the knife used by Jesus to slice bread was permanently exhibited in the Logetta of St Mark's Campanile in Venice.
[32] The relics of the Passion presented at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris include a piece of the True Cross from Rome as delivered by Helena, along with a Holy Nail and the Crown of Thorns.
Wearing a simple tunic and with bare feet, the King placed the Crown of Thorns and other relics in the palace chapel in a structure he commissioned.
Since then, these relics have been conserved by the canons of the Metropolitan Basilica Chapter, who are in charge of venerations, and guarded by the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
For instance, the Holy Nails brought back by Helena, some believe the Catholic Encyclopedia notes are problematic based on the number of claimed relics:[2] Very little reliance can be placed upon the authenticity of the thirty or more holy nails which are still venerated, or which have been venerated until recent times, in such treasuries as that of Santa Croce in Rome, or those of Venice, Aachen, Escurial, Nuremberg, Prague, etc.
Probably the majority began by professing to be facsimiles which had touched or contained filings from some other nail whose claim was more ancient.The Scala Sancta, the stairs from Pontius Pilate's praetorium, ascended by Jesus during his trial, were brought to Rome by Helena of Constantinople in the 4th century according to tradition.
